Kuk Sool Won
Kuk Sool Won is a systematic and comprehensive study of the traditional fighting arts that together comprise the martial arts history of Korea. As a martial arts system, Kuk Sool Won seeks to integrate and explore the entire spectrum of established Asian fighting arts and body conditioning techniques, including traditional weapons training.
Kuk Sool Won was founded in 1958 by Grandmaster SUH, IN HYUK, 10th Degree Black Belt. It has since become a world-wide organisation, with thousands of students training in schools in many different countries. Although not that well known in the UK there are over 70 schools across the nation.
Kuk Sool Won is founded upon the principles of Oriental philosophical practices such as Buddhism and Taoism and places a strong emphasis on humility, self-discipline, self-control and respect for others. At the heart of Kuk Sool training is the development and use of ‘Ki’ (internal power). Special Ki training exercises are performed to stimulate and generate this vital energy or life-force which empowers the student with greater physical and mental strength.
Kuk Sool utilizes a comprehensive technical syllabus which includes: hand and foot strikes to vital points, throwing, falling, joint locking, pressure points, forms, sparring and a myriad of weapons techniques that together merge into a beautiful and dynamic hard-soft style emphasising speed and fluidity. Ancilliary techniques such as meditation, mindfulness and breathing techniques and shiatsu and acupressure are also employed to improve and maintain health and develop internal power.
HAND TECHNIQUES
- Open and Closed hand striking methods, including: palm, fist, wrist, fingers
- Pressure point striking
- Striking with arm, elbow and shoulder
- Blocking and parrying
LEG TECHNIQUES
- Fundamental kicks, including: front, inside, outside, & more
- Advanced kicks, including: jumping, spinning, combination,
- Pressure point kicking
THROWS AND GRAPPLING
Throws include: body throws, projection throws, hip throws, leg throws , Pressure point grappling, Grappling defense, Wrestling techniques, Ground fighting
JOINT LOCK TECHNIQUES
- Restraining methods
- Joint breaking techniques
- Combination joint locking
- Control and redirection techniques
- Arrest and compliance techniques
FALLING AND ACROBATICS
- Body conditioning and agility techniques.
- Body protection techniques.
- Acrobatics for defense and offense.
BODY CONDITIONING
- Overall stretching and flexibility training
- Cardiovascular conditioning
- Muscle toning
- Ligament and tendon strengthening
- Joint flexibility and bone conditioning
TRADITIONAL KOREAN WEAPONS
- Sword: short & long, single or double, straight or inverted
- Staff: short, middle & long, single or double
- Spear
- Cane
- Rope
- Fan
- Bow & Arrow
MEDITATION AND BREATHING
- Various breath control techniques
- Meditation and breathing posture
Andrew Parfitt holds a 4th Degree black belt in Kuk Sool
and has studied with JDKJN Phillip Holmes at the
Eastbourne Club since 1993.